DETAIL OF WORK 



189 



which may gradually be improved, say, after a couple of 

 months, up to a little better than half speed. An ordinary 

 Australian, unless, indeed, he be wanted for some parti- 

 cular distance, may commence at three furlongs every 

 morning, and increase it up to a mile by the end of two 

 months. Farther than this may make him slow. But 

 if he is to be trained for races of only a certain length, 

 then a third of that may be begun with, and he should 

 gradually go up to three-quarters of the full distance. 

 This may be varied once a week by a half-mile spin, 

 somewhat quicker than the usual pace, in order to keep 

 up the horse's "faculty of going." An off-day's hacking 

 in the country will be of great service, as well as a slow 

 gallop once a week for a couple of miles. For instance, 

 the week's work might be divided in the following way, 

 after the horse has been in regular training for a month 

 and a half : — 



Monday 

 Tuesday . 

 Wednesday 

 Thursday . 

 Friday 

 Saturday . 

 Sunday 



J mile, half speed, 

 hacking in the country. 

 \ mile, three-quarter speed. 

 I mile, half speed, or walking, 

 I mile, half speed. 

 1^ to 2 miles, slow. 

 rest. 



Besides the rest on Sundays, I would advise the 

 trainer to give the ordinary Arab or Australian an extra 

 day's rest once a fortnight in the middle of the week; 

 and a bran, or linseed and bran, mash may be substituted 

 for the usual feed of corn on the evening of the preceding 

 day, just as if it were a Saturday. Horses that are at all 



